Trades Apprentice

The School District of Philadelphia; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 20,664,000 - 38,573,000; Full time

Job summary

The School District of Philadelphia offers a four-year Apprenticeship Program in trades such as plumbing, steamfitting, electrical work, carpentry, and vehicle maintenance. Apprentices receive hands-on training and one weekday of classroom instruction each week, growing in skill and earning potential as they progress.

Successfully completing the program results in automatic classification as a qualified mechanic within the relevant trade, with staged pay increases throughout the tenure.

Qualifications

• High School Diploma or equivalent is required.
• Some familiarity with materials, tools and procedures used in the trades.

Responsibilities

• Assist plumbing tasks, including loading and unloading tools and repairing fixtures.
• Assist steam fitting tasks such as cutting and threading pipe and maintaining equipment.
• Assist electrical work including troubleshooting circuits and wiring basics.
• Assist carpentry tasks such as installing doors, windows and floors.
• Assist vehicle maintenance with preventive maintenance and basic repairs.
• Participate in regular classroom training and related work.

Skills

Mechanical aptitude

Arithmetic ability

Able to follow instructions

Education

High School Diploma or equivalent

Job description

The School District of Philadelphia is committed to becoming the fastest improving District in the country and transforming the educational opportunities it offers to our city's more than 200,000 students. The District seeks leaders who have a passion for working with schools and communities who are committed to ensuring all students achieve. Serving a population as diverse as ours requires creativity, commitment and vision. Will you join us?

Job Summary

Work of a training nature assisting a journeyman plumber, steamfitter, electrician, carpenter, vehicle maintenance or other tradesman. Apprentices perform tasks of increasing complexity as they progress in terms of skill and experience. In addition, this hands-on training is supplemented by specialized classroom instruction one weekday each week. Continuation in the four-year program is dependent upon satisfactory attendance and the passage of periodic tests and reviews, to be administered by the School District. Apprentices will receive incremental pay increases every six months until they reach the top step of the applicable pay grade, as long as they meet attendance and grade requirements. Successful completion of the Apprentice Program results in automatic classification as an "A" mechanic in the relevant trade on the first pay step of the applicable pay grade. (The Trades Apprentice program and its provisions were jointly developed by the School District and Local 201 in response to item number forty in the memorandum of agreement dated August 30, 1989).

Essential Functions

Plumbing

• Loads, unloads and distributes tools and materials; cleans and maintains tools in good operating condition; installs and repairs toilets, drains, sump pumps and showers; repairs drinking fountains; replaces broken water mans; repairs and replaces valves and meters; cleans floor drains and unclog stoppages; cuts and threads pipe.

Steam fitting

• Loads, unloads and distributes tools and materials; cleans and maintains tools in good operating condition; cuts and threads pipe; repairs and replaces steam lines, radiators, valves, pumps and traps; re-tubes boilers; welds pipes and fittings; repairs boiler refractories; installs insulation on pipes and boilers.

Electrical Work

• Troubleshoots and repairs all power failures involving electrical circuits, switches, circuit breakers, motors, pumps and other electrical parts and equipment; maintains and repairs master and secondary clock systems, bell circuits and house phone circuits; installs and repairs fire alarm systems; maintains and repairs elevators; installs conduit and wiring.

Carpentry

• Surveys work sites and orders necessary materials; loads, unloads and distributes tools and materials; cuts, shapes, or joins lumber, cork, or other project materials; cuts shapes, or joins lumber, cork, or other project materials; installs and repairs windows, doors, door closer and floors; installs partitions; erects and repairs gymnasium, athletic field and graduation stands; cleans up work areas upon completion of projects.

Vehicle Maintenance

• Observe, learn and assist mechanics who are overseeing major repairs of vehicles. Assist mechanics in conducting preventive maintenance work on vehicles. Receives orientation on basic work operations, receives training in the work processes of the trade; accompanies journey-level workers and supervisors on the job; and performs progressively more difficult, responsible, and skilled assignments.

Other Functions

• All apprentices receive regular classroom training and perform related work as required.

Minimum Requirements

• High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Some familiarity with the materials, tools and procedures used in the area of trade specialization.

Knowledge, Skills And Abilities

• Some knowledge of the methods, materials, tools and procedures used in the area of trade specialization.
• Some knowledge of the hazards and safety precautions of the trade.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring mechanical aptitude.
• Ability to make arithmetic computations as may be required in trade work.
• Ability to understand and follow oral and written instructions.
• Ability to lift and carry objects associates with the applicable trade and to perform related manual labor.

Disclaimer

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. They are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of personnel so classified.

Nondiscrimination

The School District of Philadelphia provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, age, creed, religion, sex, sexual orientation, ancestry, national origin, disability, pregnancy, marital status, gender identity, or genetic information. Please refer to Board Policy 348 for further information regarding the District's commitment to Nondiscrimination in Employment Practices.

Certificates/Licenses

Possession of a valid motor vehicle operator's license.

Additional Information

• Each Plumbing Apprentice must also possess a valid journeyman plumbing license, as issued by the City of Philadelphia, prior to appointment as a Plumber "A".
• Each Vehicle Maintenance Apprentice must be able to lift 50lbs.
• Must obtain a valid Commercial Driver's License (CDL).
• Must obtain a valid Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Inspection Mechanic Certificate.

Primary Location

Transportation (9MW0)

Job

Central Office

Schedule

Regular

Employee Status

Non-Management

Job Posting

Aug 20, 2026, 3:29:31 PM

Union Affiliation

32BJ- District 1201 (32BJ)

Unposting Date

Oct 19, 2026, 11:59:00 PM